Fruitful nationals campaign for Guardians

From left, Saipan Seventh-day Adventist Guardians members Sion Park, Rannon Palacios, and Miles Timmons after receiving one of their awards in last week’s 2016 North American Division Invitational of the Adventist Robotics League in Sacramento, California. (Contributed Photo)

The Saipan Seventh-day Adventist School Guardians made the CNMI proud in the 2016 North American Division Invitational of the Adventist Robotics League. The team had a fruitful campaign after almost failing to attend the May 1 finals in Sacramento, California.

They placed second in project presentation, third in robot design, and finished seventh overall against 17 other competing teams in the United States.

Coach Melanie Stroud said they—Rannon Palacios, Sion Park, and Miles Timmons—arrived in the early morning of May 1, Sunday, just hours before the start of the competition.

“The tournament went well. It was a very long day and I think jetlag hit them in full force after we arrived Sunday morning,” said Stroud. They were struggling during the morning judging sessions, but still represented well.”

The team left Saipan on April 28, Thursday, and returned last Wednesday morning.

She added that one of the judges revealed that competition was really close as only five points separated the top team from the last placed squad.

Palacios, Park, and Timmons represented the CNMI in the 10th Annual North Pacific Regional Robotics Challenge held at the Walla Walla Valley Academy College Place in Washington. Cory Lee and Harvey Zhang were also part of Team Guardians.

The Saipan SDA squad was one of the three teams that earned an invitation after the Washington regionals. Their robot design and project presentation, on turning waste to energy, were tops while placing second in Core Values/Teamwork to finish second overall.

Washington, Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, California, Oregon, and Utah were the states were the other competing teams came from.

Stroud, on a side note during their stay in Sacramento and had nothing to do with the tournament, said that Timmons did something noteworthy making him a hero. The Saipan SDA fifth grader saved one of the 3-year-old twins of the family they stayed with.

“The family we stayed with had four young children and a swimming pool. One evening the kids were swimming while the parents were watching nearby. One of the twins [fell in the pool] and went under without being noticed by the parents. [Miles] noticed it and quickly swam across the pool to pull him to safety,” said Stroud.